# US 5,708,746 A · Rail-type device for mechanically splicing optical fibers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,708,746 A - Document ID: US5708746A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/571,075 - Filed: 1995-12-12 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1994-12-12 - Assignees: Korea Telecommunication Authority - Inventors: Han Ha Kim; Young Tak Lee; Jae Kuk Nam; Byung Chul Lee; Jong Young Ha; Young Bok Choi; Mee Kyung Kim; Jong Sup Kim; Oh Duck Kwon; Kun Ik Jun; Young Kyu Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5708746A ## CPC - G02B 6/3806: {Semi-permanent connections, i.e. wherein the mechanical means keeping the fibres aligned allow for removal of the fibres (dismountable connectors G02B6/3807)} - G02B 6/3636: {the mechanical coupling means being grooves (G02B6/3652 takes precedence)} - G02B 6/3652: {the additional structures being prepositioning mounting areas, allowing only movement in one dimension, e.g. grooves, trenches or vias in the microbench surface, i.e. self aligning supporting carriers} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract A structurally improved rail-type device for mechanically splicing optical fibers while reducing the splicing loss is disclosed. The above splicing device not only has a cladding clamp with a seesaw structure thereby easily splicing the optical fibers, it also separately moves the covers relative to the body to easily perform the tuning operation. Due to coating clamp's protrusions and body's slots engaging with each other, the coating clamp exclusively vertically move relative to the body and prevent the optical fibers from being axially thrust. The splicing device further seperately clamps the coating and cladding parts of the optical fibers, thereby preventing the spliced fibers from breaking due to tensile or torsional force. The sliding motion of the covers relative to the body is achieved by the rails of the covers and rail grooves of the body. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rail-type device for mechanically splicing optical fibers of a single or multi-core structure, comprising: a body opened upward to form a splicing space therein, both bottom side edges of said body being provided with axially extending rail grooves; a base panel received in said splicing space of the body and having a V-shaped groove, said base panel having a top surface, said V-shaped groove being axially formed on the top surface of said base panel and adapted for laying the optical fibers therein; a cladding clamp and a coating clamp placed on said base panel to move up and down, thereby selectively clamping the cladding and coating parts of the optical fibers respectively; and a cover slidably engaging with said rail grooves of said body and adapted for selectively pressing said cladding and coating clamps down to fix the optical fibers in said base panel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The rail-type splicing device according to claim 1 wherein a top plate of said cover is stepped on its internal surface to form a pair of thick portions with a thin center portion formed between said thick portions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The rail-type splicing deride according to claim 2, wherein said thick portions of the cover have different thicknesses. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The rail-type splicing device according to claim 1, wherein said cladding clamp includes: a top center embossment, a pair of top side embossments and a pair of depressed edges formed by stepping a top surface of said cladding clamp, said top center embossment being further embossed than said top side embossments and said depressed edges extending outward from said top side embossments respectively; and a bottom center embossment formed by stepping a bottom surface of said cladding clamp at a pair of steps. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The rail-type splicing device according to claim 4, wherein said cladding clamp has a symmetrical configuration. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The rail-type splicing device according to claim 1, wherein said body is a longitudinal body having a U-shaped cross-section. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The rail-type splicing device according to claim 1, wherein said coating clamp is stepped on its top surface to form a center embossment. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The rail-type splicing device according to claim 1, wherein the center of each top side embossment of said cladding clamp is positioned outside an associated step of sub pair of steps of the bottom surface of said cladding clamp, thereby causing said cladding clamp to perform a seesawing motion for lifting one half portion of the cladding clamp when said cover presses said top side embossment down. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The rail-type splicing device according to claim 1, wherein said cladding clamp is formed of a transparent material into a convex lens configuration. ### Claim 10 A rail-type device for mechanically splicing optical fibers of a single or multi-core structure, comprising: a body with bottom side edges and a side wall, said body opened upward to form an internal surface with a slicing space therein, both bottom side edges of said body having axially extending rail grooves, while a side wall of said body has a slot on its internal surface; a base panel received in said splicing space of the body and having a V-shaped groove, said base panel having a top surface, said V-shaped groove being axially formed on the top surface of said base panel and adapted for arraying the optical fibers therein; a coating clamp placed on said base panel to move up and down thereby selectively clamping coating parts of the optical fibers, said coating clamp having a protrusion on a side surface thereof, said protrusion being brought into engagement with said slot of the body thereby preventing said optical fibers from being axially thrust; a cladding clamp placed on said base panel to move up and down thereby selectively clamping cladding parts of the optical fibers; and a cover slidably engaging with said rail grooves of said body and adapted for selectively pressing said cladding and coating clamps down to fix the optical fibers in said base panel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The rail-type splicing device according to claim 10, wherein a top plate of said cover is stepped on its internal surface to form a pair of thick portions with a thin center portion formed between said thick portions. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The rail-type splicing device according to claim 11, wherein said thick portions of the cover have different thicknesses. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The rail-type splicing device according to claim 10, wherein said cladding clamp includes: a top center embossment, a pair of top side embossments and a pair of depressed edges formed by stepping a top surface of said cladding clamp, said top center embossment being further embossed than said top side embossments and said depressed edges extending outward from said top side embossments respectively; and a bottom center embossment formed by stepping a bottom surface of said cladding clamp at a pair of steps. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The rail-type splicing device according to claim 13, wherein said cladding clamp has a symmetrical configuration. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The rail-type splicing device according to claim 10, wherein said body is a longitudinal body having a U-shaped cross section. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The rail-type splicing device according to claim 10, wherein said coating clamp is stepped on its top surface to form a center embossment. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The rail-type splicing device according to claim 10 wherein the center of each top side embossment of said cladding clamp is positioned outside an associated step of the bottom surface of said cladding clamp, thereby causing said cladding clamp to perform a seesawing motion for lifting one half portion of the cladding clamp when said cover presses said top side embossment down. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The rail-type splicing device according to claim 10, wherein said cladding clamp is made of a transparent material into a convex lens configuration. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The sail-type splicing device according to claim 10, wherein said protrusion of the coating clamp has a balled portion, while said slot of the body has a balled socket for receiving said balled portion of the protrusion thereby forming a ball-and-socket joint.